Pinterest needs to GO

[quesyrah]

The kinder kids were assigned a 100 day project. Take 100 of any item and arrange them in groups of 10.

DS made what loosely resembles a rainbow with 3 clouds and a sun. His idea and he did it all himself.

A LOT of the projects I am seeing from friends are picture perfect Pinterest creations clearly 95% done by parents.

[dizzycooks]

And your kid is glowing with pride and ownership, doesn't have anxiety that it look perfect, and more than likely learned far more than the others, not limited to creativity and self motivation.

I do not look forward to that phase of school. It's hard enough when bdays happen. Good for you for not being sucked in!

[abs]

Pinterest should be a place for new recipes and home decor ideas. That's it, lol. That stinks. I hope your DS is proud of his work. Sounds cute!

[auroraloo]

that shit happened long before pinterest, trust me.

[lala]

Jan 24, 2016 21:13:04 GMT -5 auroraloo said:

that shit happened long before pinterest, trust me.

Exactly. 

But my kid's 100 day project last year was like your DS's. Teachers know. They'd much rather see a project that is obviously done by the child than a parent. 

It's ridiculous parents that need to go.

[quesyrah]

Jan 24, 2016 21:13:04 GMT -5 auroraloo said:

that shit happened long before pinterest, trust me.

I know, I know. It just irritates me!

[lovebeingmama]

It's true that it happened long before Pinterest. But back then, it was often the extreme, not the expected. It from a few moms doing all the work and making it picture-perfect, inviting eye-rolls and whispers from the other moms, to creating a competition and making the moms who don't do it feel like they aren't doing enough. It's awful.

[lala]

Jan 25, 2016 4:03:38 GMT -5 lovebeingmama said:

It's true that it happened long before Pinterest. But back then, it was often the extreme, not the expected. It from a few moms doing all the work and making it picture-perfect, inviting eye-rolls and whispers from the other moms, to creating a competition and making the moms who don't do it feel like they aren't doing enough. It's awful.

You have really seen/heard this in elementary school? I would have no idea what kind of projects other kids send in unless I happened to be there that day and parents aren't in the classroom that much. The idea that another kid's parent would eye roll my child's project that they made on their own is gross. I truly can't imagine any of the parents that I know, even a little bit, doing something like that. 

[lexus]

Jan 25, 2016 7:38:42 GMT -5 lala said:

Jan 25, 2016 4:03:38 GMT -5 lovebeingmama said:

It's true that it happened long before Pinterest. But back then, it was often the extreme, not the expected. It from a few moms doing all the work and making it picture-perfect, inviting eye-rolls and whispers from the other moms, to creating a competition and making the moms who don't do it feel like they aren't doing enough. It's awful.

You have really seen/heard this in elementary school? I would have no idea what kind of projects other kids send in unless I happened to be there that day and parents aren't in the classroom that much. The idea that another kid's parent would eye roll my child's project that they made on their own is gross. I truly can't imagine any of the parents that I know, even a little bit, doing something like that. 

I think she means people would roll their eyes at projects obviously done by the parents not the student.

[lovebeingmama]

Jan 25, 2016 7:40:22 GMT -5 lexus said:

Jan 25, 2016 7:38:42 GMT -5 lala said:

You have really seen/heard this in elementary school? I would have no idea what kind of projects other kids send in unless I happened to be there that day and parents aren't in the classroom that much. The idea that another kid's parent would eye roll my child's project that they made on their own is gross. I truly can't imagine any of the parents that I know, even a little bit, doing something like that. 

I think she means people would roll their eyes at projects obviously done by the parents not the student.

Yes this!!! Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant that my mom used to side-eye the moms who made their kids' projects look magazine worthy. I am sure that my mom never felt pressure to have me turn in projects that were picture-perfect, or throw a birthday party with 1000 crafty decorations, etc. But today, that pressure is real.

[lala]

Ok, re-read, she meant the eye rolling "before" for the parents and "now" the moms who don't do it feel like they aren't doing enough. Still, no. Don't let idiot parents make you feel bad for having your child do their assignment. I still can't imagine anyone I know making someone else feel bad for not doing their kid's project. Does not compute.

[lala]

I just don't buy that it's now a competition.

[lovebeingmama]

Jan 25, 2016 7:52:17 GMT -5 lala said:

Ok, re-read, she meant the eye rolling "before" for the parents and "now" the moms who don't do it feel like they aren't doing enough. Still, no. Don't let idiot parents make you feel bad for having your child do their assignment. I still can't imagine anyone I know making someone else feel bad for not doing their kid's project. Does not compute.

I don't see it yet with my own kids, except in the birthday party world. I feel like a lot of parties are all about who can make the cutest invitations, games, favors, themed food, etc. Same for things like Valentines and other holidays. As for school projects, I did see it occasionally in my classroom. True, the other parents didn't always see the other students' final projects, but I do think the "Pinterest Pressure" is real.

FWIW, I just threw my son's 4th birthday party - handwritten invitations from a package at the store, cupcakes made from a box mix, no theme, goody bags (that did not match the invitations!) filled with random candy. So, clearly I am not letting Pinterest control anything I do!  

[lala]

Well, my thing w/ pinterest is always the same. It's useful for the people that were already doing this kind of stuff and if someone feels guilt or pressure over parties or projects or valentines, that's on them. This so called "pinterest pressure" isn't' the fault of pinterest or the pinterest lovers but the person feeling upset about it. That person wasn't crafting or whatever before. Don't let a website make you feel guilty; just own what your strengths & interests are and move on.

ETA: except in the case of the stupid pinterest crayon wreaths for teachers. Those have to go. 

[cjcouple]

I haven't seen much judgement from parents. Heck, I don't even see other kids projects/work much.

Even when I offer helpful "advice" to my sons on something, they completely blow me off and do it their own way. lol
I do think there are parents out there in my sons schools doing their kids work but I really don't care. They are only hurting their child. I want my kids to earn everything they get and if they don't get top grades because their work is imperfect? so be it.

[cabbagecabbage]

Jan 25, 2016 7:52:46 GMT -5 lala said:

I just don't buy that it's now a competition.

it's only a competition if you choose to compete. Team type B 4-eva!

[lovebeingmama]

Maybe competition and judgement atmre the wrong words. But I do feel that it's this generation's version of keeping up with the Jones' In Some ways.

[quesyrah]

Jan 25, 2016 10:21:00 GMT -5 lovebeingmama said:

Maybe competition and judgement atmre the wrong words. But I do feel that it's this generation's version of keeping up with the Jones' In Some ways.

I hear you. Around here it's such a competition. I am so over it and we are only in kindergarten

[cabbagecabbage]

I totally get it but keeping up with the Joneses is also a choice. It's always a choice to compete, whether you're competing to stand out or to fit in.

[lala]

Then I'm just glad my school district is normal. There is zero of this that I have experienced.

[cna]

OMG I hate pinterest for that reason. My kids are always bringing in their projects that were clearly made by them and having to put them next to the perfect pinterest-made projects that were clearly done by parents. I legit had to explain to my kids that their projects looked different because they followed the rules and made them on their own.

[quesyrah]

Jan 25, 2016 10:52:25 GMT -5 cna said:

OMG I hate pinterest for that reason. My kids are always bringing in their projects that were clearly made by them and having to put them next to the perfect pinterest-made projects that were clearly done by parents. I legit had to explain to my kids that their projects looked different because they followed the rules and made them on their own.

Exactly! I have had this conversation more than once with DS. "Honey, you're doesn't look bad. You did it yourself and you should be proud." Ugh

[quesyrah]

Jan 25, 2016 10:34:14 GMT -5 cabbagecabbage said:

I totally get it but keeping up with the Joneses is also a choice. It's always a choice to compete, whether you're competing to stand out or to fit in.

Right, and I am not trying to compete. But it is still annoying when my child does the work on their own and displays it next to projects clearly done by a parent and then feels like his isn't good enough.

And while I as an adult know that I don't need to compete and go to the level of other parents, my kid is 5. He doesn't get that and it's difficult to explain to a little kid.

[cabbagecabbage]

Jan 25, 2016 10:59:16 GMT -5 quesyrah said:

Jan 25, 2016 10:34:14 GMT -5 cabbagecabbage said:

I totally get it but keeping up with the Joneses is also a choice. It's always a choice to compete, whether you're competing to stand out or to fit in.

Right, and I am not trying to compete. But it is still annoying when my child does the work on their own and displays it next to projects clearly done by a parent and then feels like his isn't good enough.

And while I as an adult know that I don't need to compete and go to the level of other parents, my kid is 5. He doesn't get that and it's difficult to explain to a little kid.

Is he upset? Your OP didn't mention that. That's a different life lesson and it's hard but I guess these things start early.

[lala]

I guess my consolation would be that the teachers are annoyed at those parents, too, and they like me better since my kid does their own work.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Jan 25, 2016 11:52:15 GMT -5 @mama2b said:

I saw this last year when DS1 was in K and I would go in to volunteer. Occasionally homework assignments would be hung in the hallway and about half clearly had major parent involvement/were completed by the parent ( perfect handwriting, coloring all in the lines, words written that are uncommon for a child that age to speak, much less write, no spelling or grammatical errors.)

DS1 also participated in Destination Imagination last year and the parent involvement was crazy. I was not the leader, but attended meetings/practices with him and helped as needed with the meetings as far as corralling kids. There were only so many times I felt comfortable saying, hey we need to let the kids decide/do this/come up with an idea. This was literally a conversation that occurred more than once:

Team leader"The kids need to make their own costumes"blah blah blah about the rules on it.

Parents 1,2,and3 would then approach with a catalog all marked up with post its "So how about these masks/hats/costumes..."

I volunteer and this has been my experience too.

I'm not a fan of participation trophies believe me and realize this is a part of life that DS has to learn about sooner than later. When DS is getting down on himself when he's comparing his work to an adults, not a same age peer it does suck not going to lie.

[cjcouple]

The whole comparison thing will happen even without parent involvement though.

There will be kids that print, color, paint or read better. They'll throw the ball faster, kick further, climb higher. And some will blow a bunch of the other kids out of the water. But now my kid is even more determined to improve and works harder to get better (if that is what they want.) I don't really care if a parent made their kids project. It just sets the bar higher for my sons to reach for? Will they hit that mark? Probably not but my job is to encourage and celebrate their accomplishments. Teachers are not stupid. They know exactly what kid colored in the lines because they either do it in class or only during homework. lol

I am seriously raising two of the most confident kids right now. They don't cry over loses and they don't stress over not being the best artist or the fastest mad minute kid in math. Instead they practice and practice and are truly proud of their work/progress in the end. And in the long run, they'll be the ones better off IMO.

[cjcouple]

Plus I'm fully aware my kids will not be the best at everything. They'll even work hard to improve on something and fail at times. That's when you are there for them to point out their strengths to build their self-confidence.